Cistern-cleaner.



C. S. PEARCE.

CISTERN CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. I6. I9I6.

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C. S. PEARCE.

CISTERN CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.16, |916.

Patented Mar. 20, 1917.

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Specification of Letters Eatent.

rat-eared Mar. ao, Iers.

Application filed November 16, 1916. Serial No. 131,736.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CURTIS S. Pleinen, a citizen of the United States, residing at Big Island, in the county of Bedford and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cistern-Cleaners; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in tank or cistern cleaners, the object being to provide a. simply constructed device whereby dirt or other sediment on the bottom of the tank or cistern may be readily removed without stirring up the water therein.

An additional object is to provide a very simply constructed device of this character having means for regulating the size of the openings of the cleaning attachment.

Still another objectris'to provide a very simply constructed cistern cleaner which may be formed of sheet metal in a very inexpensive manner.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention resides in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter particularly described and claimed and shown in the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional view of a portion of a cistern showing my improved cleaner disposed therein, the latter being in side elevation;v

Fig. 2 is also a side elevation of the device viewed at right angles to Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

In the accompanying drawings I. have illustrated the preferred form of my inven-V tion, it being sho-wn disposed in a tank or cistern 1 of ordinary formation. That part of the invention which is disposed at the bottom of the cistern consists of a lat rectangular box-like member 2 having a fiat top and bottom 3 and 4 respectively. The top has a vertically extending attaching rib 5 formed thereon to which the lower end of a suitable handle 6 is pivoted as shown at 7, the lower end of the handle being preferably bifurcated to straddle said rib. By this means the member 2 may be readily moved about within the cistern.

The object of this member 2- is to loosen the sediment at the bottom of the cistern so that it may be drawn into. the same and sucked up through a pipe S to the top of the cistern, or above the surface of the ground where the latter is sunk below the level of the earth. Any preferred means may be provided for creating suction in the pipe 8, such as a hand or machine operated pump (not shown). The pipo 8 is preferably iexible and carries at its lower end a suitable coupling' by which it may be attached to the upper end of a pipe section 9 which projects through the top 3 of the member 2. The pipe section 9 extends within the member to a point adjacent the bottom 4 and is secured in said top by soldering or other-,preferred means.

In order that the dirt or other sediment may be forced into the member 2, a pair of slits are provided therein, these slits being formed in the opposite sides 10 of the member. The most simple manner of forming these slits and thatf preferably used, consists in spacing the'lower edges of the sides l() from the bottom 4, thus producing horizontal openings 11 of uniform width throughout their length. Scrapers by which the sediment is loosened are formed by extending the bottom 4 beyond the sides 10 as shown at 12, these portions 12 being slightly downwardly inclined as shown. From the foregoing description it will be seen that the member 2 may be moved in either of two directions to loosen the dirt in the bottoni of the cistern 1, and cause it to be sucked into the body of the member from whence it is readily removed by the above mentioned pump. Y

In case the pump is not sufliciently strong or is not operating properly, it becomes necessary to reduce the size of the slits or openings 11 so as to create more suction. In order to accomplish this, a spring metal plate 13 is spaced a slight distance away from each of the sides 10, the ends of each Aof these plates being bent laterally as at 13 ing either one or both of the slits 11. Any

number of fiat plates 14 may be provided and the slit may be either wholly or partially covered thereby. lt will be seen that these plates project above the top 3 of the member' so that they may be readily removed from between the spring metal plates 13 and the sides 10.

rlhis means provides a very simple arrangement whereby the member 2` may be adj nstedto accommodate various degrees of suction. Since all oi? the parts or the device are very simple in their nature and may be i'ormed oi light gage sheet metal, the invention may be very inexpensively manufactured and marketed.

l claim:

l. A device of the class described comprising a Hat boX, the opposite edges the bottom thereol being extended beyond the sides to form scrapers, the sides of said box adjacent said scrapers ha vini),- narrow horizontal slits 'formed by spacing the lower edges of said sides :from tl e bottonna handle connected with the top oit' said box, and means for removing material from said box.

2. A device et the class described compris ing a box having` inlet slits :termed in its opposite sides adjacent its bottom, means for partially or wholly closing,` either oi said slits, a handle connected with the top o'f said box, and means for removing,` material from said box.

3. A device of the class described comprising a` fiat box, the opposite edges of the bottom of the box being extended beyond. the sides to form sc/apers, the sides of said box adjacent said serapers having narrow horizontal slits formed by spacing the lower edges of said sides 'from the bottom, a spring metal plate disposed in close proximity to each of the sides containing said slits, said plates being secured by their opposite ends to the other sides of said box, a plurality of plates adapted to be held by said spring metal plates to close said slits, a handle connected with the top of said box, and means for removing material :Frein said box.

si. A device of the class described coinprising a box, the opposite sides of said box having narrow slits adjacent the bottom, a spring,l metal plate disposed in close proximity to each oit' the sides containing' said slits, said plates being secured by their epposite ends to the other sides oit the box, a plurality ot' plates adapted to be held by said spring metal plates to wholly or partially close said slits, a handle connected to the top oit' said box, and means for removing material `from said box.

ln testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CURTS SYLVESTER PEAR-UE. Vllitnesses H. P. GLASGOW, PEARL PYETTE,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. C. 

